One piece molded closable pour spout cap for a container



Oct. 8, 1968 A. J. PORTER 3,404,815

ONE PIECE MOLDED CLOSABLE POUR SPOUT CAP FOR A CONTAINER Filed Sept. 5. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. .2

INVENTOR. .ALV/N d: POF? TER BY W, 04.1 a n wlx ATTORNEYS Oct. 8, 1968 A. J. PORTER 3,404,815

ONE PIECE MOLDED CLOSABLE POUR SPOUT CAP FOR A CONTAINER Filed Sept. 5. 1967' w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALVIN J PORTER A7 TORNEYS I I 4 6 T in 74 Uni ed. 1 S ate Pfltefit' 'r 3 4 1 i ONERIECE MOLDED CLOSABLE POUR SPOUT CAP FOR A CONTAINER Alvin J. Porter, Minneapolis, Minn, assignorto Product ,Design & Eugineering,'Inc;, Minneapolis, Minn'., a corporation ofMinnesota 1 Filed Sept. 5; 1967, Ser. No. 665,463

-' 10. Claims. (Cl.5222517) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE V The disclosure, includes a'cap having a top portion from which dependsafwall for connection with a container. The top portion has a pour spout hingedly connected by molding to the top atone edge of thespout and molded at an angle to the top. A ledge'member is hingedly molded to the top in a positiona't anangle theretp. The ledge member has notches formed therein whereby the same may be hingedly moved and bypass the side walls of the spout. The top carries lug means for lockingthe ledge tothetop and which is engaged by hook means carriedby the side walls of the spout to limit the open "spout position. 7

Summary of the invention The'invention relates to an improvement in a cap for a container and more particularly to a cap having a closable pour spout. It is an object of the invention to provide a cap having a pour spout which is capable of being molded in one pieceand easily formed into operating condition: Pour caps made in two pieces and assembledhave increased cost. With the present invention the construction of the pour spout cap is such that it can be molded in one piece and withdrawn from the mold and then formed .into a completedcondition. The subject cap construction allows the spout to be opened at a full range from zero to more than'one-hundred degrees but with stop means to prevent the spout from being displaced. The stop means is molded in a position whereby it is out of the way for removal of the cap from the mold.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cap embodying'the invention with the spout in the open molded position.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 with the spout and ledge portions moved to a position allowing assembly.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view simliar to FIG. 5 but with the ledge in locked position and the spout in a resultant captive position, the spout shown in full open and closed assembled position in broken lines.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cap in full open position.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the cap in full' open position with a portion of the top broken away.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of FIG. 6 with the spout in full open position. I

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 but with the spout in fully closed position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the cap A includes the top portion 16. Depending from the underside of the top 16 and as an integral part thereof is the circular wall 18 for engagement with a container. A three-sided open s 3,404,815 iatented Qet.

spout 19 includes the end wall 20 molded -integrally-. wi t h the top 16 at the lower edge 22.0f'the wall, and the connection of the lowerwallshoulder edge 22 is weakened along its lengthas at 24. The spout .19 also includesthe side wall portions 26 and 28 molded integrally withand converging inwardly. slightly from the outer side edges of the end wall 20. The sidewall portions 26 and 28 are set inwardly slightly from the edges of the end wall 20 to form lip portions 21 and 23, respectively along the end wall. Each of the spout side wall portions 26 and 28 includes the arcuate outer edges 30 and 32, respectively, and the loweredges 34 and 36, respectively.

Extending from the lower end of each of the arcuate edges 30 and 32 is the hook or detent 38 and 40, respectively. The top 16 is formed with the elongated spaced recesses 42 and 44 which define the converging edges 46 and 48 of the opening 50. The recesses 42 and 44 receive the lip portions 21 and 23, respectively, when the spout is in a closed position. I

The opening 50 is further defined by the transverse shoulder 52, particularly FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8, and the angular transverse shoulder 56. The shoulders 22 and 52 form the weakened portion 24 and the shoulder 56 together with the shoulder 58 form the weakened portion 60 which connects the outer edge of the ledge member 62 to the top 16-for hinged assembly. The ledge member 62 is generally flat and rectangularin shape and includes the notch 64 formed in the end edge 66 forming the shoulder 67 and the notch 68, formed inrthe end edge 70 forming the shoulder 69. When the ledge 62 is moved to the locked operative positionof FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 as hereinafter described, the edges 66 and 70 of the ledge lie along side the edges 46 and 48 of the opening '50. Also with the ledge 62 in locked position, the wall portions 26 and 28 are maintained substantially in spaced sliding contact with the edges 46 and 48,- respectively, due; to the walls' 26 and 28 held spread .apart by the shoulders 67 and 69.

The numeral 72 designates a lip which extends from the ledge member 62. Formed on the underside of the top 16 is the pair of spaced depending lugs 74 and 76 with the distance between the lugs 74 and 76 being slightly less than the width of the lip 72 whereby the lip is forced between and frictionally held between the lugs 74 and 76, particularly FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The recesses 42 and 44 terminate in the transverse recess 78 whereby the lip portion 80 of the spout 19 may be engaged by the finger of the user to raise the spout from a closed position.

The cap A is molded in one piece in the position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, which allows mold removal and economy of production. To place the cap in operative assembled condition, the spout portion 19 is hingedly moved to the position shown in FIG. 5, and in this position, the ledge 62 may be hingedly moved from the vertical position as in FIG. 3 through the position of FIG. 5 to the operative position of FIG. 6. This may be accomplished for with the spout 19 in the substantially forty-five degree position of FIG. 5 the ledge bypasses the side wall portions 26 and 28 by placing the wall portions 26 and 28 in the notches 64 and 66, respectively. The ledge 62 can thereby be moved to the position of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 with the lip 72 of the ledge forced between the lugs 74 and 76 where the ledge is locked in the position of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 parallelly disposed to the top 16.

With the ledge 62 locked in the position of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the side wall portions 26 and 28 of the spout are movable in the notches 62 and 64 as the spout is moved to an open position from a closed position and from an open position to a closed position. The full open position is limited to that of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 by the hooks 3s and 40 extending from the walls 26 and 2s and engaging the underside ofthe ledge 62, particularly FIGS. 7 and 8. The spout is easily pivoted to a fully closed position with the lip portions 21 and 23 upon the recesses 42 and 44, respectively. I

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A closable one piece pour spout cap for a container (a) a support member for connection with a container,

(b) said support member having an opening formed therein,

(c) a' pour spout hingedly connected to said support member by an integral molded connection adjacent said opening for opening and closing the same, said spout molded in an initial position at an angle to said support member,

((1) a ledge member hingedly connected tosaid support member by an integral molded connection, said ledge member molded in an initial position at an angle to said support member,

(e) means for securing said ledge member from its initial position to one of engagement with said support member, and

(f) means formed on said spout for engaging said ledge to limit the upward hinged movement of said spout upon said support member.

2. The device of claim 1 in which (a) said'spout includes an end wall having a molded hinged connection with the support member, and

(b) spaced side walls connected to and extending from said end wall.

' 3. The device of claim 2 in which (a) said means for securing said ledge member includes a lip formed on said ledge, and

(b) means carried by said support member for gripping 14 said lip and holding the same against displacement.

4. The'device'o'f claim3in which (a) said means on said support member for gripping said lip includes a pair of spaced lugs.

5. The device of claim 4 in which (a) said meansron said spout for engaging said ledge includes an extension formed on atleast one of said 6. The device of claim 5 in which p l (a) said ledge is formed with notches through which said side walls pass to allow said ledge to bypass said side walls when said ledge is moved from its initial molded position to a position secured to said support member. n i

7. The device of claim 1 in which (a) said means for securing said ledge member includes a lip formed on said ledge and h (b) means carried by said support member for gripping said lip and holding the same against displacement.

8. The device of claim 1 in which (a) said means on said spout for engaging said ledge includes an extension formed on at least one of said side walls.

9. The device of claim 2 in which (a) said ledge is formed with notches through which said side walls pass to allow said ledge to bypass said side walls when said ledge is moved from its initial molded position to its secured position parallel to said support member.

10. The device of claim 2 in which (a) said molded hinged connection of said end wall with said support member includes a weakened area at the point of connection. 

